Framework for Responding to Poetry

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Framework for Responding to Poetry
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Analyzing Poetry

• Most poems tell a story of emotions.
• A series of moods that change as the poem moves
  from start to finish.
• Whether or not we understand what everything in
  the poem means, we can experience, enjoy, and
  convey to others the poems emotional drama.
• We do this by recognizing the changing tone of
  voice that the speaker of the poem adopts as the
  poem moves from beginning to end.

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Introduction

• Briefly introduce the title of the poem and name
  of poet.
• Try to classify the type of poem it is e.g.
  sonnet, ballad, haiku, acrostic, lyric, ode,
  limerick, elegy, dramatic monologue, etc.
• Briefly explain the subject of the poem.

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Point One Explore Themes of the Poem

• Try to group the ideas in the poem.
• Is there a story the poem is trying to tell?
• What do you think the poem is about?

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Point Two Imagery Used to Express Themes

• What are the pictures in the poem?
• Are metaphors/similes used to explain ideas?
• Are the five senses used to evoke certain
  reactions in the reader?

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Point Three Form and Structure

• How is the poem organized?
• Lines
• Verses
• Layout
• shape
• Why has the poet decided to structure the ideas
  this way?
• e.g. the sequence of ideas, length of lines,
  patterns, etc.

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Point Four Rhyme and Rhythm

• How does the poem rhyme?
• abab or aabb, etc.?
• What is the rhythm of the poem when read aloud?
• Why has this poet chosen this rhyme and rhythm to
  express these ideas?

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Point Five Language Patterns

• Think about the sound of the poem and choice of
  words.
• The poet uses specific words because the have a
  certain association in the readers mind.
• Look for alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance
  personification, symbolism, etc.
• How has the poet grouped words to achieve a
  desired effect?

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Point Six Tone

• Tone tells the attitude of the poet to the
  subject.
• Tone may change it may not necessarily stay the
  same throughout the poem.
• What tone of voice is the author using?

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Conclusion Poets Message

• What is the poet trying to communicate to the
  reader?
• How effective are the devices/language that
  he/she uses?
• What is your response to the poem?